Wiring a Grid to Train Roses

When you grow climbing roses (Rosa spp.), a strong support system creates an advantageous display of the blooms, and also acts as a foundation for training and maintaining the stems. Depending on the specific variety, roses grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9, and climbing roses reach lengths of 15 to 20 feet or more. These trailing stems will not climb naturally, but instead require ties to secure them to a support system. Installing a wire grid along a wall or fence allows you to train your climbing rose to grow upward and along the grid, and cover the blank surface.

1

Place a yardstick or tape measure vertically on the wall or fence, positioning it where you want the left edge of the support system to sit. Place a level against the yardstick or tape measure to make sure it runs straight.

2

Make one mark 18 inches above ground level with a pencil or piece of chalk, using the yardstick or tape measure as a guide. Make an additional mark every 12 inches up to the top of the wall or fence.

3

Move the stick or tape 12 inches to the right of the first set of marks. Check that it's vertically straight, using the level. Make a mark 18 inches above ground level. Make one additional mark every 12 inches up the entire height of the wall or fence. Repeat this process to create a vertical line of marks every 12 inches across the width of the wall or fence. Mark the last line where the right side of the support system will sit.

4

Insert the end of a 1/4-inch drill bit into the head of an electric drill. Drill a 1-inch-deep hole in each mark across the wall.

5

Screw a 5-inch half-threaded eye bolt into one of the holes. Turn the eye bolt with pliers if it becomes difficult to do so by hand. Repeat this process to screw one bolt in each of the holes.

6

Cut a piece of 20-gauge 4-strand vinyl-coated galvanized wire 8 inches longer than the distance from the leftmost bottom eye bolt to the rightmost bottom eye bolt, using a pair of wire cutters. Thread the first 4 inches of one end of the wire through the hole of the leftmost bottom eye bolt. Bend the wire end around the outside of the bolt and wrap it around the portion of wire extending toward the right to secure it in place.

7

Thread the loose end of the wire through the hole of each eye bolt in the bottommost row. Pull the wire tight. Bend the end around the outside of the rightmost bottom eye bolt and wrap it around the stretched wire to secure it in place.

8

Thread one piece of wire through each row of eye hooks in the same manner as before, creating the horizontal lines of the support system. Twist each end of each wire around the stretched portion to secure it in place.

9

Cut a piece of wire equal to 8 inches greater than the distance between the leftmost top eye bolt and the leftmost bottom eye bolt. Thread the first 4 inches of one wire end through the leftmost bottom hook. Bend the end around the outside of the hook and wrap it around itself.

10

Thread the wire's loose end through the hole of each eye bolt in the leftmost vertical row. Pull the wire tight. Bend the wire end around the outside of the topmost eye bolt and wrap it around itself to secure the wire in place.

11

Thread one wire through each vertical row of eye bolts to create the vertical lines in the support system's grid. Twist the wire ends in the same manner as before to secure each wire.

Things You Will Need

Yardstick or tape measure

Level

Pencil or chalk

1/4-inch drill bit

Electric drill

5-inch half-threaded eye bolts

Pliers

20-gauge 4-strand vinyl-coated galvanized wire

Wire cutters

Tip

You must plant the roses at the bottom of the grid and train them to the support system when they first begin to grow.